Enjoying God's Goodness!

Hi friends!

We are soaking up the goodness of rest and fellowship with loved ones here in Maricopa County, Arizona after our drive from Guasave and stop in Tucson for a passport renewal. Our plans for where & when we would be in the U.S. have changed a bit since our last update, and we're also excited to share the ministry work that God is blessing beyond our expectation!

-Update on last month-

Police Outreach

We ended up moving the date of visiting the police officers' outreach to a couple days after Father's Day planning to have another pastor join us. However his mother-in-law passed away the day before and he still wasn't able to attend. But the Lord met us there and strengthened us! I was a bit nervous as usual as we waited to be cleared to enter their campus and set up, but as Ryan picked up the microphone and started speaking it became an awe-moment as all the police officers drew in formation and quietly listened. Ryan picked up his bible, opened to Proverbs 16 and started reading to them. As he read verse 8, "Better is a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice," he slowed down, read it again, and then said...this is God's Word...this is what God says, but do you really believe this? And he continued reading, going over some verses twice and asking the same question. I have to say, I wouldn't have given my front row position at that event for any FIFA game tournament!! I was hearing God's Word taught to a police academy that has never heard! It was glorious! I was silently praying and cheering Ryan on!! He wrapped up his reading from the bible with prayer for them and letting them know they all were receiving a gift card from Calvary Coffee. A free coffee drink and snack. For every police officer. 270 total. The crazy part was Ryan has been working the coffee shop alone the past month-Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 am to 5:30pm (or later) and Saturdays from 8:30am to 5pm and was expecting to close it down for the month. But at the last minute possible, God provided workers! Yes, even one that is volunteering to be there every day without pay. Please support them, and us, by praying for them- Sinai and Emanuel. The police officers are coming for their free drinks! Ryan said they often come with doubt, expecting they'll still have to pay and are geniunely happy to find out otherwise! So, this is something very new for them! I had the pleasure to see one female officer come in and pick up one of Ryan's books in Spanish (Saved From Self) while she was waiting for her drink. I was screaming with delight on the inside; because these police officers have never stepped foot in before, and now we get to treat them, show God's grace, and let God draw their hearts to Him. May the Lord be magnified and receive the rewards of His suffering!!

-Our kids and school-

We were pleased parents to find out the Jasper finished 2nd in her class (and graduated 6th grade which is elementary in Mexico and a big deal there) and Jubilee ranked 3rd in hers. Yes, it is a small private school, but this being their first full year in a Mexican school, it was quite an accomplishment. God is good! Not only that, but we gifted the kids' teachers with gift cards to Calvary Coffee. Cyrus' teacher came with her two sisters and because of Cyrus' insistence that she tell me when she would go, I showed up and had a wonderful and very meaningful discussion about eternal life and the need to read our bibles. That lead to a continuation of that same topic at his parent-teacher conference which lead his teacher to a curiosity to start reading the bible and thus we gifted her one! Talk about my heart singing this past month! It's not that we lack challenges and spiritual warfare and unpleasant surprises in our day to day there; but it's these very moments that bolster us and fill us with that kind of joy that actually strengthens us and keeps us going! Ryan gets to have the seed-planting conversations at the coffee shop on a daily basis! He loves it! For all those that are cheering us on, thank you!!!

-Another wedding and anniversary-

We had a very quick wedding take place last month. It came with it's own unique set of challenges and blessings; a time to rejoice with the couple but also extol them and their families to truly seek the Lord and His ways. And right after their wedding, we celebrated our own 15th year of marriage, and God's pure goodness through these years together.

-Palos Verdes-

We once again were able to visit the youth in Palos Verdes, this time with chimichangas (I took a photo to share but it's not on my phone) - they are flat but with a larger rectangular crispy dough you cream up and top with shredded lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, and hot dog pieces! And two kinds of chili sauces! Ryan lead them in a bible study and we gave candy to those kids who brought their bibles. It was sweet to connect with them and encourage them in God's Word. Our hearts we once again satisfied, knowing that it is God that brings the increase, we just need to stay faithful in planting and watering.

-Current travel plans-

We will be here in Arizona until our flight to Charleston Friday, July 3rd. We are returing to Pheonix, AZ July 16 and planning to drive to Orange County, California the 19th and stay there until the last of the appointments we currently have scheduled (the 27th) and then return back to Arizona for a few days before making the trip back into Sinaloa. If you have not reached out that you want to meet with us and would like to, please do. Thus far, it has blessed us tremendously. Yes, we are looking forward to resting, but meeting with our friends and family in Christ really does strengthen us too. Because none of us are sterile from facing diverse trials. Really, pruning hooks are felt by ALL of us, but when we fellowship together, we receive strength just like members of one body that work well together. Somehow, the challenges, the stress, the conflicts... they seem to fade and the joy of being with those of the same mind and faith in Christ is heightened...the laughter we share really does work like medicine on our souls. It is good for brothers to dwell together in unity. Let us encourage one another while we have the opportunity to do so.

Shalom, dear people. Shalom.